The cypress curtain of the night

 The cypress curtain of the night is spread,
 And over all a silent dew is cast.
 The weaker cares by sleep are conquered.
 But I alone with hideous grief aghast,
 In spite of Morpheus' charms a watch do keep
 Over mine eyes to banish careless sleep.

 Yet oft my ttrembling eyes through faintness close;
 And then the map of Hell before me stands,
 Which ghosts do see and I am one of those
 Ordaines to pine in sorrow's endless bands,
 Since from my wretched soul all hopes are reft,
 And now no cause of life to me is left.

 Grief, sieze my soul for that will still endure
 When my crazed body is consumed and gone;
 Bear it to thy black den, there keep it sure,
 Where thou ten thousand souls dost tire upon:
 Yet all do not afford such food to thee
 All this poor one, the worser part of me.

by Thomas Campion (1567-1620)

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

by Thomas Campion (1567-1620) , "The cypress curtain of the night"

Added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

Gentle Reminder

This project is not funded. If you found the information here useful, please consider making a donation. Your gift is greatly appreciated!      - Emily I also have a wishlist at Amazon.ca.

Search/Shop for

Sheet music:

  Search sheetmusicplus.com for The cypress curtain of the night, Art song , Lieder, chansons, or works for solo voice
  Search musicroom.com for The cypress curtain of the night, vocal/choral music

CDs:

  Search amazon.com for The cypress curtain of the night, art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for The cypress curtain of the night, art song, Lieder, or chansons

Books:

  The Art of the Song Recital [amazon.com]
  The Book of Lieder: The Original Texts of Over 1000 Songs [amazon.com]
  Search amazon.com for art song, Lieder, or chansons
  Search amazon.ca for art song, lieder, or chansons

Classical Vocal Repertoire